BRIDGEPORT >> Bridgeport voters have elected an ex-state senator and former city councilman to the Connecticut legislature.

The Connecticut Post reports that Sen. Edwin Gomes, the Working Families Party candidate, beat a Democrat, Republican and petitioning candidate in a special election Tuesday. He lost the Senate seat in a primary in 2012.

The post was vacated by Andres Ayala, who was appointed state motor vehicles commissioner by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.

Democrat Steven Stafstrom defeated Republican Enrique Torres and three petitioning candidates for a seat in the state House of Representatives.

Stafstom was tapped for a vacant City Council seat in 2013 and lost to Republican Enrique Torres and three petitioning candidates. He beat Torres to win the House seat.

The previous representative, Auden Grogins, was nominated as a state Superior Court judge.